Since everyone insisted, Cecilia Gu couldn't really refuse. She walked in and sat down on the couch to rest for a bit.
Eric Jiang's gaze landed on Cecilia's belly. He smiled gently, "How many months along are you now?"
"A little over five months," Cecilia replied with a soft smile. "Is it getting bigger?"
Eric Jiang nodded, "Definitely! But honestly, sis, you don't look all that different."
Cecilia turned to Xiao Wang, "Go pour me a cup of tea."
Xiao Wang quickly turned and left to get the tea.
Cecilia looked up at Eric Jiang, "I'm not sure how I managed to offend Helen Jiang. Mind helping me out and explaining it to me, Eric?"
Eric Jiang gave a wry smile, "Did Helen do something over the line again? It's my fault, really. I've spoiled her way too much these years! Cecilia, I sincerely apologize. I'll make sure to keep her in check from now on."
Cecilia smiled and shook her head, "Helen's already in her twenties, right? It's kind of nice she still keeps her real personality."
Cecilia was being diplomatic, not trying to make a big deal out of it—just giving Eric Jiang a gentle reminder not to let the situation get out of hand.
Eric Jiang caught her meaning right away and said with a serious expression, "Thank you for being so understanding, Cecilia, and not holding it against Helen."
Cecilia smiled and shook her head lightly.
"I heard you’ve already acknowledged the Yun Family as your birth family," Eric Jiang asked carefully. "So... have you ever paid respects to Nora Yun?"
Cecilia shook her head, "No. I brought it up before, but my parents refused. They said Nora Yun wasn’t buried in the family’s ancestral tomb but somewhere else, so I never got the chance to pay my respects."
"I see," Eric Jiang’s eyes flashed with a hint of regret. "If you ever get the chance in the future, could you burn some incense for me too?"
Cecilia smiled and nodded, "Sure."
Eric Jiang finally breathed a sigh of relief, "Honestly, I’ve heard about you for a long time, but I didn’t dare come see you. You and Nora look so much alike—seriously, it’s uncanny! I can barely tell you two apart."
Cecilia couldn't help but laugh.
Sophie Mo had told her before—Eric Jiang used to be head-over-heels for Nora Yun.
Now, with Cecilia wearing the same face as Nora Yun and facing someone who once chased after Nora, it honestly felt a little weird.
It’s fine if you don’t know, but once you do, it just feels kind of weird inside.
Eric Jiang jumped in to help Cecilia out: "Even though I never got to be with Nora Yun, you marrying into the Yin Family means we're family now. Just a different kind of family, and honestly, I'm grateful for that."
Cecilia smiled, feeling relieved. "As long as you’re okay with it. The ones who’ve passed are gone, but those of us left behind have to keep going. Besides, you’re such a great guy, Eric—there’s got to be plenty of girls out there who like you. You should open your heart and give someone else a chance."
Eric Jiang got distracted again, lost in Cecilia’s sparkling eyes.
"Ah, sorry, I just..." Eric Jiang rubbed his forehead in frustration. "What did you just say?"
Cecilia gave a helpless little smile, "It’s nothing."
Sis, your charm is unreal, isn’t it? Even your admirers can’t get over you, two years after you’re gone!
"I heard you’re on the Board of Directors now. I’m a member too, so if you ever need anything, just ask! We’re family, after all!" Eric Jiang said seriously, looking at Cecilia.
"Thanks, Eric. I’ll take you up on that!" Cecilia replied cheerfully, not bothering with formalities.
Before Eric Jiang met Cecilia, he didn’t think much of it—just figured they looked alike by coincidence.
But after seeing Cecilia in person, he realized it was more than just a resemblance—she and Nora Yun looked like they came from the same mold!
Even their expressions and gestures were so similar.
The only real difference was that Nora Yun always looked frail, needing to rest after just a few words.
Cecilia, on the other hand, was the picture of health. Even pregnant, she didn’t show a hint of discomfort on her face.
The two of them chatted for a while longer.
Eric Jiang finally understood—Cecilia Gu was Cecilia Gu. She wasn’t Nora Yun.
Cecilia wasn’t as scholarly as Nora Yun, and she wasn’t as delicate either.
But Cecilia had a resilience and energy that Nora Yun never had.
Cecilia didn’t speak with the same eloquence and brilliance as Nora Yun, but her words—even if simple—always hit the mark.
After all, Cecilia was a college graduate. She might not be Nora Yun, but she was far from mediocre.
That made Eric Jiang admire her even more.
They started talking about other stuff and realized they both loved anime.
Cecilia never expected Eric Jiang, almost thirty, to be such a hardcore anime fan. When they chatted about the latest Japanese series, they really hit it off.
Eric Jiang grinned, "Since you’re into this new series too, I just ordered a full set of figurines—all hand-designed by the creator, totally one-of-a-kind! You married my cousin and I never gave you a wedding gift, so let me give you these as a belated present."
"Really? That’s awesome!" Cecilia’s eyes lit up. "Guess I won’t be shy about accepting it!"
"Come on, don’t be so polite with me." Eric Jiang said, watching Cecilia’s bright eyes, feeling a little strange inside.
Just then, the door was suddenly kicked open.
Cecilia looked up and saw Wendy drop the teacup, looking totally flustered.
Helen Jiang was standing in the doorway, glaring at Cecilia in fury!
"Young madam, Miss Jiang rushed in and I didn’t see her coming—the teacup spilled everywhere." Wendy quickly explained, "It’s my fault. I’ll go pour another one."
Cecilia sighed. Even though Wendy didn’t tell the whole truth, Cecilia could guess what really happened.
"Forget it, let’s go." Cecilia stood up and turned to leave.
Helen Jiang blocked Cecilia, "Cecilia Gu, do you have any shame? You’re already married to my cousin, so why are you still trying to seduce my brother?"
Cecilia stared at Helen Jiang in shock, "What did you just say?"
Eric Jiang’s face changed instantly. He stepped forward and pulled Helen Jiang aside, "What nonsense are you spouting? She’s your sister-in-law!"
Helen Jiang yelled at Eric Jiang, "Can you honestly say you don’t have feelings for her? Can you say looking at Cecilia doesn’t remind you of that woman?"
Eric Jiang’s face changed dramatically!
"Cousin, watch your words! There’s nothing between me and Eric Jiang. If you say stuff like that, it’s one thing for family to hear, but if it gets out, it’ll ruin the reputation of both the Yin and Jiang families! We’re related by marriage—if one suffers, we all do. As the Jiang Family’s eldest daughter, you should know better! No matter how much you misunderstand me and Eric, you need some real proof, don’t you?" Cecilia’s eyes were calm but her words were firm.
"A woman like you doesn’t need proof! You schemed against your best friend, slept with her boyfriend while she was away, got pregnant, and then kicked your friend aside! What kind of proof do you need? Shameless! No wonder people call you a witch—you just love seducing men! Charles Yin is so handsome and you’re still not satisfied, now you want my brother too!" Helen Jiang blurted out everything Ran Xiwei told her, shouting at the top of her lungs.
Cecilia’s face went pale and she staggered.
She never imagined she’d be talked about like this—like she was trash.
Seeing Cecilia’s pale face, Eric Jiang knew things had gone too far. Helen Jiang was really out of line today!
No matter how Eric Jiang tried to pull Helen Jiang away, she just kept cursing Cecilia. Finally, Eric couldn’t take it anymore and slapped Helen hard across the face!
"Helen, that’s enough! You’re way out of line! How could you say that about your own sister-in-law?" Eric Jiang roared.
Helen froze, clutching her face, staring at Eric in disbelief.
"You hit me? All these years, you’ve never even raised your voice at me! And now you hit me for that woman? Don’t tell me you’re not into her! Eric, you’re the one who needs to wake up! What spell did she put on you that you’re so obsessed after just seeing her once?" Helen shouted, holding her face.
Eric Jiang’s face turned even darker.
What the heck is going on here?
Cecilia couldn’t listen anymore. She turned to Eric Jiang, "Sorry, I have something to do. I’m leaving!"
With that, Cecilia turned and left without a second thought.
She was furious—really, truly furious!
All she did was have a simple chat with Eric Jiang, and she still got screamed at.
What did I ever do to deserve this?
After Cecilia left, Eric Jiang glared at Helen Jiang, "Do you even realize what you just said? Are you crazy? There’s nothing between me and Cecilia! By yelling like that, you’re not just insulting her—you’re shaming the Jiang Family too!"
"You think I don’t know you follow Cecilia’s Weibo and stare at her posts? Are you treating Cecilia like she’s Nora Yun? Since Nora’s dead, why doesn’t Cecilia just die too? With that seductive face, why does she even get to live?" Helen Jiang screamed.
Eric saw Helen getting more and more out of control. He shot her a cold look, "I’ll deal with you when we get home!"
With that, Eric Jiang turned and stormed off!
Watching Eric’s back as he left, Helen Jiang’s eyes were full of pure malice.
Ran Xiwei was right—Cecilia Gu really is a witch!
She was born to seduce men!
Cecilia Gu, why don’t you just go die?